Makati is the financial heart of Metro Manila, a dense grid of glass towers, upscale shopping malls, and some of the best restaurants in the Philippines. If Manila can feel chaotic and overwhelming, Makati is the part that works — the streets in the central business district are relatively clean, the pavements walkable, and the infrastructure noticeably better than in much of the capital.
The Ayala Triangle and Greenbelt areas are the centre of gravity: manicured parks surrounded by malls, international restaurants, and rooftop bars. Poblacion, the old town district, has reinvented itself as Manila's hippest nightlife neighbourhood, with cocktail bars, live music venues, and restaurants crammed into converted residential houses along narrow streets. The Ayala Museum is worth a visit for its diorama collection tracing Philippine history.
Most visitors to Manila end up spending at least some time in Makati — it has the highest concentration of international hotels and is well connected to the rest of the metro by taxi, ride-hailing apps, and the MRT. English is widely spoken and you will have no trouble getting around.